Alan Maher's Power Enhancer

zmanbands · « **Reply #560 on:** 8 Jun 2008, 12:33 am »

No. Just "reference power cords", under topic "reference". These just came out about 3 months ago.

Paul_Bui · « **Reply #561 on:** 8 Jun 2008, 03:26 am »

Quote from: michaelv on 7 Jun 2008, 11:52 pm

I was wondering if anyone installed Reference One filter feels that it's overly warm?

I install 1 Ref. One filter in my HT circuit which is in the same phase with the 2-channel circuit. My audio circle has PE V pro/custom. I feel that the sound is way too warm, but bass is 1 notch stronger, tighter.

May be it's me who install Ref One in the wrong place. I'll try to move Ref. One to my 2 channel to see if it's different.

The filter layout in HT circuit is below:

Reference One -> PE -> PE IV ->PE (where power conditioner is). Choke 193L is at power conditioner IEC.

Michael,

I installed 3 Ref Ones in circuits where there are no other PE's (furnace in attic, dryer machine duplex, and disposal/dishwasher duplex) and didn't have overly warm issue.

Paul_Bui · « **Reply #562 on:** 8 Jun 2008, 03:27 am »

Quote from: zmanbands on 8 Jun 2008, 12:33 am

No. Just "reference power cords", under topic "reference". These just came out about 3 months ago.

You made me want to try them. Thanks for the impressions.

vett93 · « **Reply #563 on:** 8 Jun 2008, 07:18 am »

This is a great thread. I can't believe that I have read all 57 pages.

Has anyone used PEs to further enhanced his/her power line conditioner? I have a nice 2-ch system with a Shunyata Guardian PLC for all my 2-ch gears. It sounds real good now. The only issue I have is the sound stage depth is very shallow.

Can PE products improve the depth?

BTW, I have X10 devices in several circuits. X10 uses power line to send control signal to turn on/off lights and appliances. Will PEs interfere with X10? X10 signal is about 120KHz.

Thanks!

JenMaher · « **Reply #564 on:** 8 Jun 2008, 08:58 am »

zmanbands-
The Reference will require 25 to 30 days of non-stop 24/7 electrical flow for a full break in, I suggest turning the component on and leaving it on. Listen to the cord at day 1, 7, 10, 14, 21, 25, and 30 and compare notes.

Note: We have a new Reference power strip coming out in July/August which includes the Reference as the main power cable. I don't think Alan made up his mind yet which strip he wants to modify, better to ask him next month.

michaelv-
The Ref One is too much of a good thing to use on the same circuit as a Hammond choke tweak, try the Ref One on another circuit on the same phase. For those who do not use the Hammond tweak the Ref One will be fine on the same circuit as the a/v system.

vett93-
Thank-you.

The PE V S/AC would be perfect to enhance/upgrade your Shunyata Guardian power conditioner. I would also recommend tuning the non-audio/video circuits using the PE, PE II, III, and Reference One as an option for further improvements in the future

The PE V S/AC will improve every aspect of the musical performance.

I have no experience with the X10 units, maybe one of our other clients can comment. The standard PE and PE V S/AC work above 120KHz, so I don't really see a major problem, but I would still like to see someone comment just to be sure.

Paul-
The Reference and Reference v2 (soon to be released) would be an excellent choice for your system.

denjo-
Dennis when are we going to work out your install problem? As I mentioned earlier the Studio Reference is not a dark sounding cable, it provides a flat response and allows all the tonal quality of the component to emerge, so something else must be wrong. Provide a full list of components, tweaks, cables, speaker positions, and room dimensions, I bet the farm that one of these parameters are out of whack and need to be readjusted.

JenMaher · « **Reply #565 on:** 8 Jun 2008, 02:42 pm »

Tip: Replace duplex outlet steel mounting screws and cover screw with brass. Also try replacing plastic and metal outlet covers with exotic wood covers. Purpleheart covers sound very good with the 15 and 20 amp Hubbell outlets. We have tried several different types of exotic woods and Purpleheart sounds even and very musical.

Paul_Bui · « **Reply #566 on:** 8 Jun 2008, 03:56 pm »

Thanks Jen for Reference v2 info and more tips.

michaelv · « **Reply #567 on:** 8 Jun 2008, 05:38 pm »

Quote from: JenMaher on 8 Jun 2008, 08:58 am

michaelv-
The Ref One is too much of a good thing to use on the same circuit as a Hammond choke tweak, try the Ref One on another circuit on the same phase. For those who do not use the Hammond tweak the Ref One will be fine on the same circuit as the a/v system.

Jen,
Is it ok if i used Ref One on different circuit , but NOT in the same phase with 2 channel circuit and HT circuit?

The reason i'm asking is i have another TV in the family room which has Ref. One in the wall outlet and PE at Plasma IEC .
If this is fine, then i get back what i had before : great sound with 2-channel and HT with PE, PE IV , 193L.

thanks.

zmanbands · « **Reply #568 on:** 8 Jun 2008, 07:16 pm »

{{{{To put things in better perspective on my new reference pwr cords, I offer my system perspective [PART 1] and my system pics [PART2]. Part 2 will be in my next post.}}}} RF-7 Klipsch speakers with [Dean xover], Rotel RB 1090 power amp, Audio Research SP 11 pre amp [ tweaked with Herbies tube dampers] and a Sony DVP NS9000ES SACD player [upgraded to level 6 by Vacuum State]. Anti-cable for speaker wire and Cat Cables silver Kingcats for interconnects. Velodyne DLS 5000R sub. Belkin Pure AV 31D power conditioner. All components including amps are plugged directly into the power conditioner which is on a dedicated 20 amp hard wired outlet. 1 Alan Maher Power Enhancer (PE) and one PE are plugged into the Belkin PLC. 5 more PE are in non a/v circuits on same phase of sub panel. Eight ASC Tube/Bass Traps. All components are on 2 side by side heavy oak racks each 6 1/2 feet tall. Every component is isolated from its shelf by Mapleshade isoblocks with a 2" thick maple block/platform on the isoblock and large brass cones between blocks and components.Large and small brass weights are on top of all components. SACD player, SP 11 power supply and 1090 amp also have laminated steel VPI bricks on top. RF-7 speakers are on large brass cones on maple blocks which have large carpet piercing cones under the blocks Six Shakti stones are taped to my main power panel and sub panel to filter noise. Maher reference pwr cords and (IEC) hammond chokes are on SACD and RB 1090. Double hammond chokes wired into PLC. Highwire coils to be added to 3 non detachable pwr cords.

vett93 · « **Reply #569 on:** 8 Jun 2008, 07:26 pm »

Thanks, Jen. I am a little confused about a few things. How do I determine if some circuits are on the same phase? Can I tell by looking at the main circuit panel? Do I just treat other circuits on the same phase with 2-ch gears with PEs? Or do I treat circuits on the opposite phase too?

When I read "PE2 > PE > PE V > PE > PE2", does it refer to installing them on the same circuits, or 5 different circuits on the same phase?

I have a dedicated circuit for my 2-ch gears. The 2-ch gears are integrated with my HT and serve as the L/R channels for HT. I am much more picky with the 2-ch. I have a Shunyata PLC for the 2-ch circuit and an APC PLC for the HT. I have separate surge protectors and filters for the subwoofers which are on the same HT circuit, but are on different duplex outlets. These subs generate lots of noises due to their high power Class-D amps.

For my 2-ch circuit, should I use PE V S/AC, PE V P/AC, or PE V P/AC Customer? Which one will give me the best sound? (neutral, un-colored, deeper stage, etc.)

For my HT circuit, I plan to put a PE on the same duplex with the APC PLC.

Should I treat non-A/V circuits first? Or should I treat the 2-ch and HT circuits first?

Please feel free to comment and advise. Thanks.

zmanbands · « **Reply #570 on:** 8 Jun 2008, 08:52 pm »

I tried to post my system pic which are in an email [computer illiterate] and it doesn't work. If someone knows how, I'll email the pic to you and you can post it.

JenMaher · « **Reply #571 on:** 9 Jun 2008, 09:51 am »

michaelv-
It is OK to experiment with Reference One placement on the same circuit and different circuits.

zmanbands-
Keep us up to date with your break in reviews.

vett93-
If you look at the circuit panel you should see two rows of breakers. The left row will be one phase and the right row should be the other phase. We perfer if all circuits are treated because all circuits interact with each other via the ground. Same phase filtering will couple to all filters on the same phase via the hot conductor and extend the bandwidth of the phase filtering. At the same time it will also lower the noise of the neutral side and eventually the earth ground because the neutral and earth ground are connected together at the service panel.

"When I read "PE2 > PE > PE V > PE > PE2", does it refer to installing them on the same circuits, or 5 different circuits on the same phase?"

Same circuit filter orientation.

I would suggest the PE V S/AC for the 2 channel set up if you plan on using your current power conditioner as the main hub. Only use the PE V Pro Custom if you plan on purchasing the Reference 8 power strip and plan on removing the power conditioner. it has been reported the S/AC has bettered the Shunyata and Running Springs models.

For the home theater I would suggest 1 PE or S/AC installed at the wall with the APC power cord and another PE installed in one of the APC outlets.

Treat the 2 channel stereo and HT first. Next follow the circuit tuning suggestions and knock out one circuit at a time.

Currently my husband is on the road with Kiss in Europe, but he will be returning in a few weeks and we will start accepting pre-orders June 15. I highly recommend placing a pre-order for the July 7 shipment because stock and shipping dates sell out quickly, it's been a couple of months since Alan has shipped product do to his touring schedule and we already have a waiting list for multiple models.

zmanbands · « **Reply #572 on:** 9 Jun 2008, 09:59 pm »

Reference Power cable break in Day 2 [see my impressions after 3 hours from installation, 2 pages back]. Day 2. More of what I heard before with more clarity. Bass improvement is the most noticable with trebel not far behind. reduced brightness.

JenMaher · « **Reply #573 on:** 10 Jun 2008, 11:51 am »

zmanbands-
So glad to hear the Reference cord is working out. I know Alan really wanted to attack the over inflated cable market with a one two punch with this cable and give the big boys a run for their money. The Reference is our entry level design and only shows a glimpse of what can be expected with our new top of line PE V Plasma and Studio Reference v2 (price TBA). Alan strongly believes cables are not a throw around tweak and instead a vital part in system synergy. Cables should do absolutely nothing to color the sound quality, that is the engineer in him, instead cables should extract every last bit of detail the recording has to offer. if you listen to our SR v2 for example and compare it with a live (in your room) presentation you will discover the SR v2, as well as the Plasma, extract every last bit of detail the instrument has to offer, and does nothing to alter or color the sound in any way. The Plasma cable used for a video device is like adding a $20,000 video processor to your flat panel display.

Just keep watching over the next several months, you guys haven't seen nothing yet, the 08'/09' designs will be an industry first for many. No hype intended with that statement he has out done himself the last year and a half, just wait until the Studio Reference interconnects are released in July to understand what I'm talking about

Just a note, the Reference cable can also be special ordered for in-wall applications, e-mail for more information.

Happy listening.

michaelv · « **Reply #574 on:** 10 Jun 2008, 05:55 pm »

Hi,
I've just received Hubbell 5362 (iluminated) . When i bought it, i didn't pay attention that this outlet is lighted up in 1 outlet. I was wondering if this is safe to use?

thanks.

JenMaher · « **Reply #575 on:** 10 Jun 2008, 10:00 pm »

michaelv-
Where did you purchase the Hubbell HBL-5362, I have never seen one light up before. Click the link, this is the outlet we suggested, I have seen a few posts for $6 and $7 outlets, the average price for the HBL-5362 is between $20 and $25:

http://www.alliedelec.com/Search/ProductDetail.aspx?SKU=627-0024&SEARCH=&ID=&DESC=HBL5362

BTW, I saw Alan this evening at the SAP Arena in Mannheim and he said to say hi to everyone.

michaelv · « **Reply #576 on:** 10 Jun 2008, 10:37 pm »

Jen,
I got it from the link you provided in a few previous posts.
http://cgi.ebay.com/AUDIOPHILE-CRYO-HUBBELL-5362IL-OUTLET-20AMP-125V_W0QQitemZ200180140806QQihZ010QQcategoryZ53112QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Please send my regards to him.

thanks.

JenMaher · « **Reply #577 on:** 10 Jun 2008, 10:45 pm »

They look OK, can the diode be removed?

michaelv · « **Reply #578 on:** 10 Jun 2008, 11:54 pm »

Jen,
I'm not sure. I didn't know it illuminated until i turn power back on. I probably direct this question to the seller. He may know something.

thanks.

JenMaher · « **Reply #579 on:** 11 Jun 2008, 06:53 am »

I'm sure it's not going to be a big deal, especially if a PE is installed.